The use of daily questions for educational purpose

Authors: Esther Tanck Gerjon Hannink Sascha M H F van Kuppeveld Sanneke Bolhuis Jan G M Kooloos

Publish Date: 2013/04/09

Volume: 2, Issue: 3, Pages: 162-164

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Abstract

Students in biomedical sciences have difficulty understanding biomechanics In a secondyear course biomechanics is taught in the first week and examined at the end of the fourth week Knowledge is retained longer if the subject material is repeated 1 However how does one encourage students to repeat the subject matter We investigated if two opportunities to practise per day TOPday via email motivated the students to repeat the subject material and to what extentDuring the course all secondyear students n = 92 received a TOPday of biomechanics on every regular course day The TOPday consisted of one or two multiplechoice questions with increasing difficulty during the course By clicking an answer the student received feedback immediatelyAt the end of the course a nonanonymous questionnaire was conducted Students answered how often they had participated questions answered none/barely group A about half group B almost all group C Other questions on the questionnaire included level of background knowledge mathematics/physics appreciation for a TOPday and increase yes/no of selfconfidence and enthusiasm for biomechanics Test results scale 1–10 and appreciation versus the number of questions answered were analyzed using oneway ANOVA and Bonferroni post hoc tests Confidence and enthusiasm were analyzed with descriptive statistics in the group of students who actively participated groups B and CEightytwo students participated in the examination and filled in the questionnaire The appreciation for TOPday in group A n = 19 B n = 22 and C n = 41 was 70 74 and 78 respectively p  001 between A and C Of the students 91 and 79  showed an increase in their confidence and enthusiasm respectively for biomechanics due to TOPday In addition students who actively participated B–C had a higher test result for biomechanics p  005 compared with those who did not A This effect was shown both for students who have difficulties understanding mathematics and physics n = 20 result A = 32 B = 71 and C = 72 and students who indicated mathematics and/or physics to be easy n = 62 result A = 57 B = 72 and C = 77The teaching method ‘TOPday’ seems an effective way to encourage students to repeat the subject material with the extra advantage that students are stimulated to keep on practising for the examination The appreciation was high With active participation confidence enthusiasm and test results for biomechanics improved These results will be used to encourage students even more to participate actively in TOPday

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